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We Danced
We Danced is a devastating memoir about love, illness, and the unthinkable pain of loss, told with searing honesty by Canadian writer Wade Myall.
Wade wasn’t looking for love when he first saw Rita behind the counter of a downtown Winnipeg coffee shop. He was a single father, quietly surviving the aftermath of a failed marriage and the painful distance from his daughter. His life had narrowed into duty and quiet despair. But Rita, bright, kind, and honest, changed everything. What began as a slow and gentle friendship blossomed into a profound love story that would reshape Wade’s life.
Together, Wade and Rita built a blended family filled with warmth, laughter, and the quiet rituals that make up a life. Weekend breakfasts, family road trips, whispered late-night conversations. Their connection was electric and deeply intimate, grounded in compassion, sensuality, and an unshakeable loyalty. Rita, who lived with schizophrenia, met life with courage, humour, and an open heart. Wade embraced her with unwavering acceptance. Their love was a refuge for both of them.
As the years passed, they created a life of deep meaning and quiet joy. They traveled through Europe, got married at Niagara Falls, and learned how to live, even in life’s ordinary moments. But in the summer of 2015, a shadow fell. Rita was suddenly plagued with crippling headaches and strange symptoms no doctor could explain. What began as quiet concern soon gave way to fear, and then to devastation when it was discovered she had terminal cancer.
Told in a voice that is both personal and relatable, We Danced is a story of what it means to love someone so completely that your very sense of self is bound to theirs. It is about building a life together, brick by brick, and what happens when that life is threatened by forces beyond your control. As Rita’s illness worsens, Wade faces the impossible task of holding her, and himself, together. His grief is not tidy or inspirational. It is raw. It is real. And it is unforgettable.
More than just a memoir of loss, We Danced is a love story in the purest sense. It’s a testament to the extraordinary bond between two people, and the ache of having to say goodbye. For anyone who has loved, and lost the person who made the world feel like home, this book will break your heart and give you something to hold on to.
Wade wasn’t looking for love when he first saw Rita behind the counter of a downtown Winnipeg coffee shop. He was a single father, quietly surviving the aftermath of a failed marriage and the painful distance from his daughter. His life had narrowed into duty and quiet despair. But Rita, bright, kind, and honest, changed everything. What began as a slow and gentle friendship blossomed into a profound love story that would reshape Wade’s life.
Together, Wade and Rita built a blended family filled with warmth, laughter, and the quiet rituals that make up a life. Weekend breakfasts, family road trips, whispered late-night conversations. Their connection was electric and deeply intimate, grounded in compassion, sensuality, and an unshakeable loyalty. Rita, who lived with schizophrenia, met life with courage, humour, and an open heart. Wade embraced her with unwavering acceptance. Their love was a refuge for both of them.
As the years passed, they created a life of deep meaning and quiet joy. They traveled through Europe, got married at Niagara Falls, and learned how to live, even in life’s ordinary moments. But in the summer of 2015, a shadow fell. Rita was suddenly plagued with crippling headaches and strange symptoms no doctor could explain. What began as quiet concern soon gave way to fear, and then to devastation when it was discovered she had terminal cancer.
Told in a voice that is both personal and relatable, We Danced is a story of what it means to love someone so completely that your very sense of self is bound to theirs. It is about building a life together, brick by brick, and what happens when that life is threatened by forces beyond your control. As Rita’s illness worsens, Wade faces the impossible task of holding her, and himself, together. His grief is not tidy or inspirational. It is raw. It is real. And it is unforgettable.
More than just a memoir of loss, We Danced is a love story in the purest sense. It’s a testament to the extraordinary bond between two people, and the ache of having to say goodbye. For anyone who has loved, and lost the person who made the world feel like home, this book will break your heart and give you something to hold on to.
Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2025
2 people want to read
About the author
Wade Myall
1 book2 followersWade Myall is a Canadian writer living in Ottawa. His debut memoir, We Danced, is a deeply personal story of love, loss, and grief, written with unflinching honesty and lyrical beauty. Known for bringing a vulnerable male voice to literary memoir, he explores the intensity of romantic love and the shattering impact of losing the person who meant everything. When he isn’t writing, Wade enjoys reflecting on art, travel, and the quiet moments that shape a life. He is currently working on a historical fiction series. The first of four books, "The Valley of Dust", is scheduled to be released in 2027.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 17, 2025
So sad yet so beautiful. Rita seemed like such a lovely woman that I wish I could have met. I can't say I enjoyed the book, given the substance, but I'm glad I read it and got to learn about Wade & Rita's story.
January 13, 2026
Sometimes love finds you when you’re not looking for it. That’s exactly what happened for Wade Myall, after two failed relationships left him heartbroken and dejected. But after his eyes fell upon a woman named Rita, his heart started to mend, and soon Wade knew she was The One. In this heart-wrenching book, We Danced: A Journey of Love and Loss, author Wade Myall shares how he met Rita, their long-term relationship, and the painful experience of losing his beloved to an aggressive disease that steals her away.
The story doesn’t start there, though. It starts at the very beginning, when Wade becomes a single father to his son, Dan. The next relationship results in his daughter, Brittany, but unfortunately, that relationship with Brittany’s mother goes south, and Brittany is taken away from the home after her mother moves away. Wade and Dan struggle to cope with the absence of a little girl they love so much, going on with their lives. In a way, this painful episode helps give them the strength and the wisdom that they will need later for other events that happen in their lives.
I enjoyed reading about the slow courtship between Wade and Rita. How, at the beginning, Wade is uncertain about finding love again. He doesn’t think he’ll ever be happy with anyone. But then, Rita comes into his life, and everything changes. It all happens so slowly, though, with caution and curiosity. They become friends first, which I feel made their bond even stronger when love comes into the picture later on.
When love does enter the picture, it enters with full force. Both of them love each other wholly and unconditionally. There’s only acceptance and kindness, without resentment and jealousy. There are no games, no trials, only love. They give to each other willingly, knowing they can trust each other with their hearts and their emotions. Wade prioritizes his relationship with Rita, even making changes to his job because of all the times he had to spend away from her, causing pain for them both. They do whatever it takes to make each other happy, never taking their love for granted or allowing it to waste away. They fully support and stand by each other no matter what happens. That’s love.
Reading about their devotion to each other was sweet, and the stories from their European vacation really took my breath away. I am grateful the author shared in so much detail what it was like when they visited England, Scotland, and Rome. The beauty of these countries is captured so well in his writing, and the stories shared really brought those moments to life.
The love that these two people shared is so strong, and they were truly committed to each other. They don’t take each other for granted, and they live in a way that they know everything can end without warning, so they cherish their time together with every day they get to spend together.
The strong bond and love for each other help them get through the early days when Rita begins to exhibit troubling symptoms. Ever the trooper, she tries to press on, shrugging it off until she can no longer ignore what her body is trying to tell her. Wade knows that something is very wrong, and he does what he can to ensure she gets the medical attention she needs. Then they finally have the answer and the two of them hold fast to each other, stronger than ever as the remaining days of Rita’s life play out.
The last part of this book was hard to read. Many chapters left me with tears in my eyes. Going into this book, I knew Rita would pass away at the end, but it was still so hard to read. Especially when Wade picks up Rita’s mother and sister and his mother at the airport, to drive them to the hospital so they can be with Rita. During this time, he writes, “We were not just driving to see Rita. We were driving toward goodbye.” (Page 256)
The part of the book where everyone was saying goodbye to Rita was so heartbreaking. On one hand, it’s a reminder of just how important it is for loved ones to be there to say goodbye when someone doesn’t have much time left to live. On another, it was a good example of the right things to do and say when saying a final goodbye. Or, sometimes, there is no need to do or say anything at all. Just appearing next to them in silence and being there is enough. While the last part of the book is very sad, it’s an important reminder of just how fleeting life can be, and how we should appreciate and cherish the time we have with the people we love because we never know how long they will be here.
We Danced is a touching and beautiful story of a strong bond between two people and how love can help people cope with loss. It is a moving story of found love, companionship, commitment, and devotion. This story shows why we need to try to enjoy as much life as we can with our loved ones.
The story doesn’t start there, though. It starts at the very beginning, when Wade becomes a single father to his son, Dan. The next relationship results in his daughter, Brittany, but unfortunately, that relationship with Brittany’s mother goes south, and Brittany is taken away from the home after her mother moves away. Wade and Dan struggle to cope with the absence of a little girl they love so much, going on with their lives. In a way, this painful episode helps give them the strength and the wisdom that they will need later for other events that happen in their lives.
I enjoyed reading about the slow courtship between Wade and Rita. How, at the beginning, Wade is uncertain about finding love again. He doesn’t think he’ll ever be happy with anyone. But then, Rita comes into his life, and everything changes. It all happens so slowly, though, with caution and curiosity. They become friends first, which I feel made their bond even stronger when love comes into the picture later on.
When love does enter the picture, it enters with full force. Both of them love each other wholly and unconditionally. There’s only acceptance and kindness, without resentment and jealousy. There are no games, no trials, only love. They give to each other willingly, knowing they can trust each other with their hearts and their emotions. Wade prioritizes his relationship with Rita, even making changes to his job because of all the times he had to spend away from her, causing pain for them both. They do whatever it takes to make each other happy, never taking their love for granted or allowing it to waste away. They fully support and stand by each other no matter what happens. That’s love.
Reading about their devotion to each other was sweet, and the stories from their European vacation really took my breath away. I am grateful the author shared in so much detail what it was like when they visited England, Scotland, and Rome. The beauty of these countries is captured so well in his writing, and the stories shared really brought those moments to life.
The love that these two people shared is so strong, and they were truly committed to each other. They don’t take each other for granted, and they live in a way that they know everything can end without warning, so they cherish their time together with every day they get to spend together.
The strong bond and love for each other help them get through the early days when Rita begins to exhibit troubling symptoms. Ever the trooper, she tries to press on, shrugging it off until she can no longer ignore what her body is trying to tell her. Wade knows that something is very wrong, and he does what he can to ensure she gets the medical attention she needs. Then they finally have the answer and the two of them hold fast to each other, stronger than ever as the remaining days of Rita’s life play out.
The last part of this book was hard to read. Many chapters left me with tears in my eyes. Going into this book, I knew Rita would pass away at the end, but it was still so hard to read. Especially when Wade picks up Rita’s mother and sister and his mother at the airport, to drive them to the hospital so they can be with Rita. During this time, he writes, “We were not just driving to see Rita. We were driving toward goodbye.” (Page 256)
The part of the book where everyone was saying goodbye to Rita was so heartbreaking. On one hand, it’s a reminder of just how important it is for loved ones to be there to say goodbye when someone doesn’t have much time left to live. On another, it was a good example of the right things to do and say when saying a final goodbye. Or, sometimes, there is no need to do or say anything at all. Just appearing next to them in silence and being there is enough. While the last part of the book is very sad, it’s an important reminder of just how fleeting life can be, and how we should appreciate and cherish the time we have with the people we love because we never know how long they will be here.
We Danced is a touching and beautiful story of a strong bond between two people and how love can help people cope with loss. It is a moving story of found love, companionship, commitment, and devotion. This story shows why we need to try to enjoy as much life as we can with our loved ones.
September 12, 2025
This book truly hit close to home for me — I found myself crying so many times while reading it. Rita was such a beautiful and strong soul, and the way Wade wrote her story made it feel like she was right here with us again. This isn’t just a book, it’s a gift to anyone who is grieving, healing, coping, or simply loves a beautifully told love story. I can’t recommend it enough.
October 23, 2025
We Danced is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking memoirs I’ve ever read. Wade Myall’s writing is raw, tender, and deeply human. The way he captures love, real love, not the fairytale kind, made me both smile and cry. His honesty about Rita’s illness and his grief is gut wrenching but also incredibly moving. This book reminded me how fragile and precious life is. Absolutely unforgettable.
October 27, 2025
Love in its purest form
I was completely unprepared for how emotional this story would be. Wade and Rita’s bond feels so genuine, so alive, that you can’t help but root for them. The way Wade writes about Rita, her courage, her humour, her illness, is tender and respectful. This book reminded me why love, even when it ends in loss, is still the greatest gift.
I was completely unprepared for how emotional this story would be. Wade and Rita’s bond feels so genuine, so alive, that you can’t help but root for them. The way Wade writes about Rita, her courage, her humour, her illness, is tender and respectful. This book reminded me why love, even when it ends in loss, is still the greatest gift.
September 3, 2025
Such a beautiful emotional story of love and loss. This story captures not only the milestones of a life shared but also the quiet everyday moments that make love so unforgettable. This story shows that while grief never truly leaves us neither does the love we carry.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews